What Ogilvie Marketing Can Do For Your Business
Mostly, I just get things done. But these are some of the areas I can help you with, to get you thinking.
Strategy
I can help you decide on a course for your business. Strategy to a business is like steering to a car - don't bother with it, and you'll have a crash. I have the experience to reduce all the variable to a small set of options; help you choose which is right for you; and then help you work out a plan to put it into action.
Research
Now, you might find the idea of a leap into the unknown exciting. On the other hand, you might think that some hard information to base your plans and actions on would be helpful. If you do, then call me. I can carry out a wide range of research, from customer interviews to desk research. I'll design the research, carry it out and summarise it for you. And I'll give you my recommendations and 'next steps' plans, too, so that you're not left wondering what to make of all these pearls of wisdom.
Financials
I'll make sure your business makes financial sense. Anything from checking your assumptions and profitability ratios, to preparing a full business plan.
(Don't make the mistake of thinking it's only accountants who are interested in financials - the point of marketing is to make money, so finance is bound to come into it.)
Pricing
This is probably the hardest bit of marketing, the most important and the bit that most people get wrong. I'll make sure you get it right. I'll identify and review the competition, work out how your customers evaluate what you have to sell and work out your pricing policy.
And I'll make sure that you're not doing cost-plus pricing - the cardinal sin of marketing in my view. (If you don't know what this is, call me to find out. You just might be a cardinal sinner.)
Range management
Most companies make most of their money out of a small minority of their products or services. (If you don't know whether this is true for your business or not, it might be a good idea to find out.) By concentrating on these, and reducing the effort you put into the rest, you can increase your profitability. But you need to make sure you do this without annoying your customers. I can do the analysis; recommend what you keep, what you lose and what you keep; what you should develop or do more of; and how to do it.
Product development
Developing products is difficult, because it involves so many strands of work. But it all starts with a clear brief, and I'll help you work out what this is. Then I'll help you manage the project, and keep it all on track. Oh, and make money at the end of it, too.
Packaging
I'll make sure your packaging isn't just a cost, but helps sell your products. And I'll make sure it's legal, decent, honest and truthful, too.
Communication
I'll find ways of telling people what you have to offer, so that they want to start buying from you and keep buying. Websites, flyers, posters, brochures, press releases, that sort of thing. (This is the bit that most people mistakenly think is all that marketing involves, because they're surrounded by it.)
* Promotion - I'll think up ways to get people to buy what you have to sell.
* Distribution - I'll help you get your product in front of customers.